Thomas Wright (1855 - 1897)

Born 28 Mar 1855 in Neilston, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Husband of Mary (Graham) Landon — married 2 Jan 1883 in Pokeno, Waikato, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 9 Jun 1897 at age 42 in Pokeno, Waikato, New Zealand

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Biography

Thomas Wright has Scottish Ancestors.

Thomas was a farmer

Birth
Thomas Wright was born in 1855 in Neilston, Renfrewshire, Scotland in the United Kingdom. He was the son of John Wright and Helen Mitchell. ^[1]

In the 1861 Scotland Census, Thomas, age 6, his parents and his siblings lived on William Street in Milton, a district of Glasgow, situated north of the River Clyde. His father was working as a commercial card cutter. ^[2]

Thomas Wright migrated from Scotland to New Zealand.

Immigration
When Thomas was about 10 years old, his family immigrated to New Zealand. Records show they sailed aboard the Helenslee leaving Glasgow on 10 September 1864. The 334 passengers on board were selected by an agent for the Auckland Government in Glasgow. The Helenslee was a 3-masted wood sailing vessel which made several voyages to Auckland carrying immigrants. This was her second visit to the colony. "She had favourable winds almost from the start, but Captain Brown and the passengers had an anxious time when passing through icebergs on November 18. The bergs extended for several miles, and were from 80ft to 100ft high." They arrived at Auckland just before Christmas, on 23 December 1864 after a little more than 100 days at sea. Passengers were ferried to the Queen Street wharf by means of cargo boats. During the voyage there were 9 births and 14 deaths, twelve of which were infants. ^[3]

Thomas' parents settled in Pōkeno a small town in the Waikato region in New Zealand, 53 km southeast of Auckland. They were among the first settlers in the region.

Marriage
On the 2nd of January 1883, Thomas married Scottish-born Mary Graham, who had also immigrated to New Zealand aboard the Helenslee in 1864. They were married in Pokeno. ^[4] They would have eight children together:

1. Helen Wright born in 1883 ^[5]
2. Frederick Wright born in 1884
3. Janet Wright born in 1886
4. Mary Wright born in 1888
5. Reubena Wright born in 1890 ^[6]
6. Thomas Wright born in 1892
7. Elizabeth Wright born in 1894
8. Samuel Wright born in 1896

Thomas' father passed away in 1891 and his mother died in 1894.

Death
Thomas passed away at age 42 in 1897. He was buried in Pokeno Cemetery in Pokeno. ^{[7] [8]} He was survived by his wife Mary, their eight children and five of Thomas' siblings.

Obituary
Thomas' obituary was published in the New Zealand Herald on 18 June 1897:'
Our Pokeno correspondent writes. lt is with sincere regret that I have to record the death of Mr. Thomas Wright, the youngest son of the late Mr. John Wright, which took place at his residence, Pokeno Valley, on the 9th inst. The deceased has resided in this district for many years, being quite a boy when he arrived here with his parents, they being amongst the " Hellenslee" pioneer settlers. He leaves a widow and large family to mourn their loss, also several brothers and sisters. His remains were interred in the Pokeno Cemetery on Friday, the11th inst., being followed by a large gathering of sympathising friends. The Rev. Mr. Findlay officiated at the grave. ^[9]

Thomas was a farmer, according to the 1919 marriage record of his daughter Reubena Wright. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: "Scotland Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950"
   FamilySearch Record: FQGY-1Y2 (accessed 5 February 2023)
   Thomas Wright born on 28 Mar 1855, son of John Wright & Helen Mitchell, in Neilston, Renfrewshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.
2. ↑ 1861 Census: "Scotland Census, 1861"
   citing p. 2, PRO RG 9, The National Archives UK, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 103,858.
   FamilySearch Record: VB44-LVZ (accessed 5 February 2023)
   Thomas Wright (6) son in household of John Wright (39) in Milton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Born in Renfrewshire.
3. ↑ Helenslee voyage and passenger list, Captain: Brown, Sailed Glasgow 10 September 1864, Arrived Auckland 23 December 1864, Reference: Archives New Zealand Micro 5019, https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~ourstuff/genealogy/Helenslee.htm
4. ↑ Marriage: "New Zealand, Civil Records Indexes, 1800-1966"
   citing Marriage, New Zealand, registration number 1883/189, Archives of New Zealand, Wellington.
   FamilySearch Record: Q24V-RKZW (accessed 5 February 2023)
   https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search/Search.aspx?Path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Dmarriages
   Thomas Wright marriage to Mary Graham in 1883 in New Zealand.
5. ↑ Birth Registration of child Helen Wright: "New Zealand, Civil Records Indexes, 1800-1966"
   citing Birth, New Zealand, registration number 1883/15120, Archives of New Zealand, Wellington.
   FamilySearch Record: Q24V-YPJ5 (accessed 5 February 2023)
   https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search/Search.aspx?Path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Dbirths
   Helen Wright born to Thomas Wright in 1883 in New Zealand.
6. ↑ Birth Registration of child Roubena Wright: "New Zealand, Civil Records Indexes, 1800-1966"
   citing Birth, New Zealand, registration number 1890/13470, Archives of New Zealand, Wellington.
   FamilySearch Record: Q24K-F5XZ (accessed 5 February 2023)
   https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search/Search.aspx?Path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Dbirths
   Roubena Wright born to Thomas Wright in 1890 in New Zealand.
7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #175517207 (accessed 5 February 2023)
   Memorial page for Thomas Wright (28 Mar 1855-9 Jun 1897), citing Pokeno Cemetery, Pokeno, Waikato District, Waikato, New Zealand (plot: BLOCK GRAVES. ROW L. Plot 18); Maintained by Debbie McCauley (contributor 47672193).
8. ↑ Burial: "BillionGraves Index"
   citing BillionGraves (http://www.billiongraves.com : 2012), Burial at Pokeno Public Cemetery, Pokeno, Auckland, New Zealand.
   FamilySearch Record: QKD2-MV44 (accessed 5 February 2023)
   http://billiongraves.com/pages/record/person/14221500
   Thomas Wright burial (died on 9 Jun 1897) in Pokeno, Auckland, New Zealand.
9. ↑ Obituary: New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10472, 18 June 1897, Page 5
   https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18970618.2.22
10. ↑ Marriage of daughter Reubena Wright: “Births, Deaths & Marriages Online”,
    [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz);
    Thomas Wright, father of the bride in Marriage Registration for Reubena Wright and Stenton Robert Seymour, citing registration number 1919/271.